Auxiliary protective extension for baseball masks and the like



July 3, 1962 F. w. GLAHE 3,041,623

AUXILIARY PROTECTIVE EXTENSION FOR BASEBALL MASKS AND THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1960 INVENTOR. Frederzck WGIahe United States Patent This invention relates to an auxiliary protective extension for baseball masks and the like, and more particularly to an auxiliary extension attachable to the lower end portion of a face mask to afford protection for the wearer in the region of the neck and between the areas usually protected by the face mask and the chest protector.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an auxiliary protective device which is readily attachable to a conventional baseball catchers or umpires face mask to extend the protection at the region of the wearers neck and in an area normally left unprotected between conventional face masks and chest protectors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rugged and relatively rigid aux liary protective device which can be easily and quite quickly attached to the bottom portion of a face mask of the type used by catchers and umpires in the game of baseball, so as to aiford a firmly supported downward extension of the face mask for the protection of the neck region of the wearer.

My invention has for another object the provision, in combination with a baseball catchers or umpires face mask, of a firm and relatively rigid extension supported in downward projecting relationship from the chin and lower jaw protecting portions of the mask.

As another object, this invention has within its purview the provision of an extension for the bottom of a face protective mask which includes a stiii and substantial outer shell having upper portions thereon for overlying outer surface regions of the face mask to provide support for the extension from the mask and having a lower mid-portion projecting downwardly from the upper portions thereof to a position well below the mask.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mask of the type used by baseball catchers and umpires, which mask has attached thereto an auxiliary protective extension embodying a preferred form of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragn entary side sectional view of the invention taken substantially as indicated by a line 22 and accompanying arrows in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of my auxiliary protective extension for baseball masks and the like shown from the front side and detached from the mask;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the auxiliary protective extension shown from the back or inside thereof and detached from the mask; and

FIG. 5 is a side sectional View of the auxiliary protective extension taken substantially as indicated by. a line 55 and accompanying arrows in FIG. 3.

In the exemplary embodiment of this invention which is depicted in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes, an auxiliary protective extension 143 is provided which is adapted to releasable securement to the lower 3,041,623 Patented July 3, 1962 "ice portion of a face mask 12 of the type used by baseball catchers, umpires and the like, and extends downwardly therefrom to afford protection for the wearers neck. The usual masks worn by baseball catchers and umpires protect the wearers face and head, and separate chest protectors are used to protect the body of the wearer. However, the space between the chest protector and the face mask leaves the neck of the wearer exposed to possible injury by being struck by a ball, such as when a batter hits the ball with a glancing blow, commonly referred to as a ffoul tip. The disclosed auxiliary protective extension 10 is releasably secured to, and extends downwardly from the mask 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mask 12 has an outer metal frame 13 including side portions 14 and 15, a bottom chin protecting portion 16, a top head protecting portion 17 and lateral cross members 18 and 19. In the disclosed structure, the outer frame and cross members are integrally cast of a light weight metal. ing portion 16 is curved from side to side so that the inner or back surface thereof is concave. A pad 20 extends across the inner surface of the chin protecting portion 16 and rests against the chin of a wearer to provide support for the mask when it is worn. In the disclosed structure, the pad 20 is removably secured to the chin protecting portion of the mask by tabs 22, 23,24 and 25 at opposite ends of the pad and by tabs 26 and 27 at the mid-portion. of the pad. The tabs 22 and 23 are secured to opposite edges of the pad 20, near one end thereof, and extend therefrom, While the tabs 24 and 25 are secured to the opposite edges of the pad near the other end thereof. The ends of the tabs 22 and 23 are releasably secured together by a fastening element, such as a snap fastener 28 with the tabs embracing the chin protecting portion of the mask in opposition to thepad. The tabs 24 and 25 embrace the chin protecting portion of the mask in opposition to the pad and are releasably secured together by fastening means, such as a snap fastener 29. Likewise, the tabs 26 and 27 embrace the mid-portion of the chin protectingportion in opposition to the pad 20 and are secured together by fastening means such as a snap fastener 30.

At the upper portion of the mask, a forehead engaging pad 32 extends across the inner or back surface of the cross member 18 to provide additional support for the mask when it is worn. 'This pad 3 2 has tabs 33, 34, 35 a and 36 which are secured in pairs to opposite end poras a snap fastener 43. The tabs 40 and 42 embrace the head protecting portion 17 of the mask in opposition to the pad 39. In use, the mask is held in place over a Wearers face and with the pads 20 and 32 engaging the chin and forehead respectively of the wearer by a head harness including adjustable strap elements 45 and 46.

My auxiliary -protective extension 10, as shown in detail in the drawings, includes a relatively hard and rigid shell 47. This shell is relatively thin and is desirably The chin protectframe structure...

light in weight". Although it may be made of various materials, the shell" 47' of" the" disclosed" structure is made of a molded plastic material, such as a hard fiber. The shell 47 has a mid-portion 48 which is curved from side to side to conform generally to the curvature. of the exterior surface of the chin protecting portion 16 of the:

protecting element for the:wearer.

n oppositesides of the mid-portion 48'of the shell, integral wing portions: 50- and 52 extend outwardly and somewhat upwardly... so that when placed in position against the-chin protecting portion of. the mask, the wing portions 50 and 52 overlie side. portions of the mask In the disclosed: structure, the wing portions 50. and 52 adjoin the top and. bottom edges of thermid-portion ofthe shell and are tapered toward their outer ends to widths commensurate: withthe opposite 1 side portions of the chin protecting portion of the mask,

which. they normally overlie.

For firmly and. releasably securing the. shell in place on.the mask, theopposite end regions ofthe wing portions 50 and 52 are embraced by. thetabs 22 and 23 at -one;side of. the maskandthei tabs 24 and 25 at the other side of the mask, which tabs also hold the pad in place against the inner surface of'the chin .protecting portion. Immediatelybelow the top marginal portion 49 of :the shell, a slot 53 is provided in the mid-portion 48 of the shell. The tab 27 extends through the slot 53 and connects to the tab 26 to embrace the top marginal portion of the shell to hold it in place against the outer sur- 1 pad. The tabs 56 and 57' are releasably secured together on the oneside of the mid-portion of the shell tabs 56 and 57 and the tabs 58 and' 59 embrace the midportion of the shell in opposition to the pad 55.

As. a resultof' the curvatures of the chin protecting portion of themask and the shell, and since the wing portions 52 and 53 extend upwardly and-outwardly from the mid-portion of the shell with the upper marginal portion of the mid-part of the shell and the outer ends of the wing portions embracing the front surface'of'the chin protecting portion of the mask, the shell affords a stable and relatively rigid downward extension of the mask for serving its protective function. In addition,

the protective extension is readily attachable to and reby: fastening means such as asnap fastener 62; The

new and desire to secure ,by letters Patent of the United States is:

' l.v In combination with a baseball catchers mask or the likehaving a frame and guard bar structure includingabottom. chin guard portion havingzan outer surface which is curved fi'orn side. to. side, a pad extending across the inner surface of said chin guard portion, and means including flexible tabs. on said. pad" and embracing said chin guard portion at spaced positions for holding the pad in place, an auxiliary protective extension for the bottom ofthe mask comprising aformed shell of relatively thin, hard andstiff. material which has a midthe outer surface of said chinguard' portion of the mask structure, said mid-portion. of the shell having a top marginal portion engaging the outer surface of said chin guard portion and a portion extending downwardly a substantial distance below the chin guard portion, said shell also having side wing portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of the mid-portion thereof to positions overlying opposite side portions of said chin guard portion, and said flexible tabs on the pad embracing said side wing portions of the shell as Well as the chin guard portion of the mask structure for holding the shell in place relative to the mask.

2. In combination with a baseball mask having metal frame and face protective parts including a laterally curved and vertically substantially straight chin protective part with pads secured against inner surfaces of some of the parts and including a chin pad having retaining tabs at the lateral mid-portion thereof and at the outer ends thereof for embracing the chain protective part for retainthereof for embracing the chin protective part for retaining the pad: in place, and said pads serving to support the mask relative to a wearers face, an auxiliary protective extension comprising a relatively hard and rigid shell of generally uniform thickness and curved in contour from side to side-to conform generally to the outer surface of said chin protective part, said shell having side wing portions which project upwardly and outwardly to opposite sides of an intervening mid-portion for engagement with spaced .outer surface portions of said metal frame part of the mask, and said mid-portion of the shell having a mask frame engaging portion at the top thereof for engagement with the outer surface of said chin protective part and an opening'therein through which one of saidtabs at the lateral mid-portion of said chin pad projects to embrace said mask frame engaging portion of the shell, saidwing portions of the shell being embraced by said tabs at the outer ends of the chin pad for further securing the shell to the mask frame, and said shell having thereon an integral portion extending downwardly therefrom to provides. neck protecting portion.

3. An auxiliary protective extension for baseball masks and the like having metal frame and face protective parts with pads secured against inner surfaces of some of the parts for supporting the mask relative to a wearers face and comprising, in combination, a relatively hard and rigid shell-of generally uniform thickness and curved in contour from side to side, said shell having side wing portions which project upwardly and outwardly to opposite sides of an intervening mid-portion for engagement with spaced outer surfacerportions of said metal frame part of the mask, and said mid-portion of the shell having a mask frame engaging portion at the, top thereof and an integral portion extending outwardly therefrom to provide a neck protecting portion, saidmid-portion of the shell having a tie receiving opening therein immediately below said mask gframe engaging portion thereof for receiving a tie for References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 376,278 Barnard Jan. 10, 1888 1,475,991 Gold-smith Dec. 4, 1923 2,248,366 Lewis July 8, 1941 2,362,597, Vince Nov. 14, 1944 2,627,602 Goldsmith Feb. 10, 1953 2,888,681 Stuart et a1. June 2, 

